Sherlock Holmes and the Yule-Tide Mystery

Sherlock Holmes #13

by Val Andrews

December, early 1890s. Christmas is fast approaching – but for Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, Dr Watson, a sudden visitor is to change what little plans they had made. James Harding, owner of a Guildford antique business, has travelled to 221B Baker Street armed with an intriguing proposition for the ever-dutiful detective. He has received an invitation from a Mr. Gerald MacMillan to assemble some friends and spend the festive period with him at his stately home in Sussex. A bizarre proposal considering Harding had only just met MacMillian... Holmes, who swiftly recognises MacMillan as a former confidence man, together with Watson shall form the rest of the travelling party. Whilst there, the famous duo try to uncover the intentions of the seemingly hospitable host who has chosen to spend Christmas with a stranger… True to form, the festivities are disturbed by an incident so shocking it threatens to ruin Christmas, but for Holmes it’s just the beginning... Sherlock Holmes and the Yule-tide Mystery promises to be one Holmes’ most baffling cases yet. Praise for Val Andrews ‘A treat for any fan of the master detective.’- Tom Kasey, best-selling author of Cold Kill. Val Andrews (15 February 1926 – 12 December 2006) was a music hall artist, ventriloquist and writer. Andrews was a prolific writer on magic, having published over 1000 books and booklets from 1952. He also authored Sherlock Holmes pastiches and Houdini's novels.

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime, Novella

112 pages, ebook

First published July 1, 1996

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Val Andrews was a music hall artist, ventriloquist and writer.
Andrews was born in Hove, Sussex, England a few hours after Valentine's Day, hence his name. Son of an architect, he was introduced to magic by his father. Andrews was a prolific writer on magic, having published over 1000 books and booklets from 1952. He also authored Sherlock Holmes pastiches and Houdini's novels. He lived for a number of years in Brighton, then in London (from 1943 onwards) where he joined the London Society of Magicians.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, Holmes and Watson are largely Holmes and Watson, but the mystery? Well, it's kinda blah. It's not bad, it's just okay and bit too more romantic.

[F.R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

We have here a right Christmas pud of a story here, with both pound coins and plastic farthings whisked into the mixture. On the one hand we have the two main characters beautifully captured, while the Christmas mystery in the old manor house is frequently quite charming. However the turkey of the story feels all eaten up and digested by the mid-way point, with the rest of the tale being a chewing away on increasingly tasteless bones whilst praying for the meal to end.

I’m inclined to be generous towards it, but that’s no doubt because of the time of the year and the fact I’m infused with Christmas spirit – but given that nobody is ever going to read this story at any other time of the year, that’s probably exactly what the author is counting on.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.This was special indeed being a Christmas gathering murder mystery. It was all one expects to encounter in a Holmes mystery, and I was not,disappointed. It is,always delightful to read an adventure during Christmas, and this one filled the bill. Every nuance of the book was original ,to the times,and to the personality, and so each of Sherlock, and Watson. It is my favorite story by far for the yule tide

[Marley]

Next to A Christmas Carol. I can't think of better literary treat than a Sherlock Holmes Christmas story. While this isn't that greatest Holmes mystery, it fits the bill for Christmas. Holmes and Watson are really up to snuff on this, though the plot is a bit weak. I'd sure like to spend a Christmas holiday at Shaw Manor. It beats bland and boring Columbus, Ohio

[Aviar Savijon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sherlock

A grand adventure in this Sherlock Holmes mystery. I truly enjoyed even though it wasn't penned by sir Doyle himself

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holmes and Watson are invited to a Yule-tide party at Shaw Manor by James Harding who was invited to it by the owner, Gerald MacMillan. Holmes has looked into MacMillan's background and knows he is a conman. They all go and meet others who have been invited in the same manner. Mr. MacMillan portrays a jovial man but has his moments when his mask drops. While there they meet Mr. MacMillan's aunt. She is murdered. Who did it? Can Holmes catch the killer?

I found this story a bit slow. Holmes is very clever as he explains the murder. I liked the other characters who meet at Christmas. It is an eclectic group of sensible people which Mr. MacMillan figures will be to his advantage as the truth comes to light on many things about him.

I also liked the secondary story arc. I liked that ending. Holmes has an interesting way to end that mystery.

[Amy Reade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Yuletide read

This was a fun mystery, told in much the same style as the books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes still has an amazing ability to make deductions and Watson is still a devoted and eager sidekick. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more from Val Andrews.

[Outlander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very reasonable Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson mystery tale from Val Andrews, this one starts with an odd invitation to accompany a client to a country house for the yule-tide celebrations. It had a touch of the usual eccentricities with the missing will to go along with the mysterious invitation but it was an entertaining interlude, there's a mystery guest for SH too.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

One day just before Christmas, Holmes and Watson are called upon by James Harding as he is suspicious about an invitation from a gentleman previously unknown to him to attend a Christmas gathering at a manor house. Of course an incident happens but can Holmes solves the case.
A story I enjoyed.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

Excellent read. However these documents tell me that another has the right. Oh well, guess I'll figure it soon. Stay safe and warm and each your be sure to ask yourself. Oh that bag of sheet, we all can use

[Teri Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful tale.

Being a lifelong fan of Holmes I was intrigued to find this one available for my Kindle. So happy I found it. It's a quick read, with a few hairy moments and Holmes' expected brilliance.

[Janette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desperately needs editing

[Sara Rossi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not finish

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! Just like a Conan-Doyle book.

[Joyce Mosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for a Sherlock lover

I enjoyed this Sherlock adventure. Val Andrews catches the flavor of the Doyle books. I was hesitant but thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

[Mike Bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cracking good read !

I can heartily recommend this excellent book , a plot with lots of twists and turns ,which truly keeps you guessing to the very end .

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually enjoy his Sherlock pastiches but this one was s little laboured and by the numbers

[Jameson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out really good but became rather dull and predictable s as the book wore on. I hope other Andrews pastiches fare better.

[Neil M James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

This small novella is a great companion to other Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Brilliantly written and well worth the time taken to enjoy.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes and the Yuletide Mystery by Val Andrews

It is Christmas season late in the 1890’s. Watson is visiting Baker Street as his wife is away celebrating the season with her family. Mr. James Harding comes to Holmes with an interesting problem.

He has been selected by a random person he met at the theatre, a Mr. Gerald MacMillan, to come to his estate, Shaw Manor for the Yule-Tide holiday. He has been told that he can bring two friends of his own choosing.

Something doesn’t quite ring true for Harding, who displays a acumen for deduction that impresses Holmes. He wants Holmes and Watson for his friends at Shaw Manor because of his own suspicions. Holmes does some checking in his own files and soon discovers that Gerald MacMillan has a rather unsavory reputation as a con man.

The people invited arrive at the manor, most being brought there by a cabman named Arthur Fox. He seems to have problems with MacMillan and doesn’t want to go too close to Shaw Manor.

The guests beside Holmes, Watson, and Harding are: Professor and Mrs. Glastonbury, Mr. and Mrs. Coldharbour, Mr. Bowser and Miss Finch. All are random guests from the theatre, just like Harding.

However; upon arrival at Shaw Manor, Holmes deduces that Gerald does indeed have a true claim upon the property. . Shaw manor belongs to the Reynaud family. One of the ancestor portraits on the walls is given as Gerald Reynaud. His aunt lives on the property, and as it turns out Arthur is actually a Reynaud, and Gerald’s cousin.

The Aunt, Lady Reynaud, is the wife of the owner of Shaw House. She is certain that there was a will made out leaving Gerald sole owner of the property. She is also certain that there was a second will replacing the first naming Arthur as sole heir.

So when Lady Reynaud is murdered…

There were several notable points of interest in this novel. It tends toward the better end of the novels written by this author. I give it four stars.

Quoth the Raven…

[Karen B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really impressed with this book. It's the first book by Val Andrews that I have read and I have no doubt I will be reading other of his Sherlock Holmes stories. He pays a great tribute to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his descriptions of Holmes and Watson; their mannerisms and speech. Holmes' investigation delves into the means, method and background of why. We clearly know who the villain is from the beginning but the mystery for the reader is "just what is this guy up to?" I would strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Sherlock Holmes.

[Colin Murtagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read quite a few of the Holmes pastiche novels. This isn't the best, but it's a long way from being the worst.
It's Christmas time and an antiques seller, James Harding appears at Holmes door. He's been invited to a Christmas party by a man he's met only once, and he's sure there's something odd at the bottom of it. Given he's been told to bring some friends along, Holmes and Watson come along to see what is going on.
The feel of the book is just about right, it is really a Christmas story and it does feel like Holmes. My main problem is with the plot.

Spoilers Follow


.The storyline comprises three main strands, one on the reason for the gathering, one on a missing will and one on a missing woman. The solution to the first is a little hard to swallow, the second and third even more. I really couldn't believe it'd take an entire year for Holmes to find anyone. The last third of the book is just stuffed trying to pull the plot threads together, with a little, allied with the unnecessary kidnapping of Holmes. This may have been better off as a short story with the plot stripped down to the main plot .

[Nancy Oakes · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's Christmas time, and a man comes to see Holmes at 221 B with a strange story. It seems that a man he has never met before has invited him to his home in Sussex for a party to celebrate the holidays. He wants to know whether or not he should go -- and Holmes tells him to do whatever he'd like to do. The man then invites Holmes and Watson (whose wife is away with relatives for the holidays) to join him, and off they go, meeting several other people who have never met their host before. It's not long until the purpose behind this rather odd gathering is revealed, and Holmes & Watson are off again trying to solve the crime.

While I admit that the premise is quite good (and new to me), it's so obvious what's going on that Billy, the boy who helps Holmes in many of his adventures, could have solved it. Aargh! Not one of Val Andrews' best, by far. I think this one is actually skippable.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holmes and Watson what more could you ask for

I got this story for free so I wasn't expecting all that much from it. I have been a fan of Holmes and Watson since I was a kid. Although this story is not a true Conan Doyle story the feel of it, the tempo of it and the happy ending are in the style of Conan Doyle. As I read this story images of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce were going through my mind along with the sounds of their voices that is how good a story this was. Now if you pay attention to the story you will discover the twist in the story, but that is how a good detective story is supposed to be: all the clues there in front of the reader to discover along with the detective. If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes then try this one on for size. Remember the game is afoot.

[Hemant Jain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little Sherlockian novella.

The author, Val Andrews, preserves the original Conanian style and elements and offers a nice read.

The story itself was not very remarkable and the author looks for more than necessary opportunities to flaunt Sherlock's power of deduction ... at times, with no consequence.

The story on the other hand was nice and easy. A couple of minor twists in the story and a nice ending ...

[Ken B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this one sitting on the shelf and decided to give it a run as "Tis the season".

It is the first Val Andrews Holmes pastiche that I have read and thought it a nice introduction. I found it well written, and contrary to the only other review that I see on GR, certainly not "skippable".

4 STARS...and has me looking for more Val Andrews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It kept with the style of the original Sherlock Holmes with all the twists expected from Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes was his typical intelligent self with Dr. Watson and Inspector Lestrade trying to keep up. I would recommend this for anyone that enjoys Sherlock Holmes or mysteries

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

Quick read. I liked it well enough to finish. I love the character Sherlock Holmes, but there were points of the story where I became bored. I'll definitely try another story and see how I feel about it.

[JaniceMosinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yule-tide mystery of the year.

I rated it a 5 because it intrigued me. What I like about this book is the fact that you had a mystery with in another mystery, etc, I would recommend this book to anyone who does love mysteries,

[E.Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable Christmas read.

Great to catch up with Holmes and Watson although this story lacked a certain level of clever ingenuity usually associated with these writings. An enjoyable read nonetheless.